To identify the Council as the principal authority for
establishing and representing the position of the judiciary in legislative
matters.

To identify the role of other offices and entities within the
judicial branch in legislative matters.

To establish a procedure for considering legislative
initiatives by the judiciary.

To establish a procedure for agencies, groups and individuals
to seek Council review of legislative initiatives.

Applicability:

This rule shall apply to the legislative activities of the
judiciary.

Statement of the Rule:

(1) Authority and responsibility of the council.

(A) The Judicial Council or its Liaison Committee shall be
the authority for establishing and representing the position of the judiciary in
legislative matters.

(B) The Council shall be the principal authority for
coordinating judicial participation in legislative matters.

(C) The Council shall schedule time prior to the legislative
session to consider those legislative items proposed for Council action by the
Liaison Committee and the Boards.

(D) The Council may endorse, oppose, amend or take no
position on proposed legislative initiatives. The Council shall limit its
consideration of legislative matters to those which affect the Constitutional
authority, the statutory authority, the jurisdiction, the organization or the
administration of the judiciary.

(2) Responsibility of presiding officer of council.

(A) The presiding officer shall be responsible for
representing the interest of the judiciary through the presentation of "The
State of the Judiciary" speech during the regular session of the
legislature.

(B) The presiding officer shall be responsible for overseeing
the day to day legislative activities of the Court Administrator.

(3) Authority and responsibility of liaison committee.

(A) The Liaison Committee shall meet periodically throughout
the year and regularly during the legislative session to consider proposed
legislative initiatives which affect the judiciary. The Liaison Committee shall
recommend positions to the Council and is authorized to take positions on behalf
of the Council when the exigencies of the legislative process preclude full
discussion of the issues by the Council.

(B) Any individual, group or agency may request that the
Council consider proposed legislative initiatives by transmitting a copy of the
legislation with their request to the State Court Administrator. The State Court
Administrator shall submit the request to the Liaison Committee. The Liaison
Committee shall review the legislative initiative, recommend whether the matter
should be placed on the Council agenda, recommend whether a guest should be
invited to explain the issues involved and recommend a position to the Council.

(4) Authority and responsibility of the boards. Boards may
direct the staff of the Administrative Office to prepare legislation and may
recommend that legislation to the Council. The Boards may also review
legislative issues and recommend positions to the Council, but may not take
public positions independent of the Council.

(5) Authority and responsibility of the court administrator.

(A) Consistent with this Code and the policies and priorities
of the Council, the Court Administrator shall act as the official spokesperson
for the judiciary and is authorized to negotiate, on behalf of the Council,
positions related to budget and legislative matters.

(B) Under the direction of the Council, the Court
Administrator is responsible for coordinating all interaction between the
judiciary and the legislative branch including the following:

(i) scheduling meetings between the Council and the
legislative branch;

(ii) meeting with legislators and other representatives of
the legislative branch to convey the position of the judiciary;

(iii) calling on individual judges to participate in
legislative activities.